China''s Oil Diplomacy Under the Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao Leadership
Date Issued
2007
Date
2007
Author(s)
Lin, Shih-wei
Abstract
In recent years, due to China''s outstanding economic growth, its oil consumption has been rising rapidly as well. In 2003, China became the world''s second largest consumer of petroleum, which was 12 years ahead of the International Energy Agency’s previous prediction. Starting in 2002, under the Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao leadership, China was entering a landmark period wherein petroleum consumption reached an all-time high. Therefore, to secure the country''s growth and development, China stepped its efforts of oil diplomacy with different oil-producing countries around the globe. With respect to China''s oil diplomacy, this thesis begins by asking: Does China''s oil diplomacy seek to attain exactly the same purposes as those of other countries? What are the principal policy tools in achieving the end? So far, there have been no systematic academic discussions about the subject. Therefore, this thesis attempts to establish a typology of and analyze China’s oil diplomacy under the Hu-Wen leadership, in order to answer the questions above. This thesis employs documentary analysis, historical research, and comparative research as the main methodological elements. In addition, to enrich the depth and breadth of this thesis, intensive interviews of a scholar and diplomats of R.O.C. and other countries are also a main source of information. This thesis firstly attempts to deal with the environment that China’s oil diplomacy faces, and points out international and domestic situations of energy security. Second, it discusses China''s energy strategies and oil diplomacy in the situations above. Third, it describes how China has implemented its oil diplomacy towards other countries. Forth, by distinguishing between “competing for energy” and “competing for power” in China’s oil diplomacy to various countries, a typology is constructed to highlight their differences. Finally, this thesis summarizes the research findings, and discusses their implications for Taiwan. China''s energy security is affected chiefly by seven international and four domestic factors. The external influences include “imbalance in oil reserve and consumption in the world”,“oil demand and supply problem”“continued rise in world oil prices”,“problems in oil transportation”,“Russia as the new oil producing country”,“increased international competition for oil”, “threat of China’s oil needs”. The domestic factors are “imbalance in China’s oil production and demand”, “problems in the structure of energy consumption”, “inadequate energy infrastructures”, and“environmental protection”. In light of these, China has crafted its energy strategy and designed its oil diplomacy to cope with the above-mentioned challenges. In the area of energy strategy, the main thrusts are energy conservation, finding new energy source, base on China, environmental protection, pluralistic development, reaching out overseas and cooperation. Oil diplomacy focuses on three aspects:. Considering three dimensions: short-term needs, long-term supply and self-sufficiency, and overall foreign policy. . Pluralization.. Cooperation and mutual benefits. Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao often take advantage of international events to discuss China’s views on its energy strategy and oil diplomacy, both of which match the actual contents of their energy strategy and oil diplomacy. These actions ensure energy security, and deliver to the international media specific images to lower the negative perception of China’s aggressive oil purchase globally. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the oil diplomacy and the competition for energy, as well as the power competition that comes with them. It also aims to clearly categorize China’s oil diplomacy. In those areas where China’s oil diplomacy aims to compete for energy, the resulting patterns include “consolidation” and “expansion”. Where it seeks to compete for power, this thesis identifies different patterns by invoking David M. Lampton’s recent insight on the various faces of China’s international power, including those in “gun”, “money”, and “idea.” Overall speaking, this thesis concludes that China’s oil diplomacy can be divided into six main types:. Middle East: the pattern of “consolidation” in competing for energy.. Russia: the pattern of “synergism” in competing for power, focusing on strategic security.. Central Asia: the pattern of “defense” in competing for power, focusing on strategic security.. Africa: the pattern of “expansion” in competing for energy.. Asia-Pacific: the pattern of “offense” in competing for power, focusing on economic interest.. Latin America: the pattern of “access” in competing for power, focusing on soft power.
Subjects
Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao Leadership
energy security
energy strategy
oil diplomacy
typology
Type
thesis
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